As we close out April and get ready for May, we’ll celebrate National Frog Month one more time.
Somewhat like wood frogs adult pickerel frogs are often found on dry land, although unlike wood frogs they seldom wander far from water. Pickerel frogs are colorful small frogs marked with irregular more of less rectangular dark spots on a lighter background and have a yellow or white dorsal fold. Pickerel frogs somewhat resemble the much less abundant leopard frog whose population is declining. Most predators will not eat pickerel frogs because when attacked they can emit a somewhat toxic secretion from their skin – it’s not poisonous to humans, but may irritate the skin.
All frog species are dependent upon wetland habitat, those places often viewed as worthless “swamps” which have been drained, filled and farmed for many years. Fortunately, wetlands are now given some degree of protection at both the state and federal level so we may hear the “quacks” of the wood frog and the “jug-a-rum” of the bullfrog for years to come.